News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 27
Charles William Harper, better known as Chuck, passed away on Saturday, May 27. He was 70 years old. Chuck was born and raised in Prineville and a fifth-generation Oregonian. He attended Oregon State, served in the Army in Germany, and lived in Portland, Oregon, where he was a mechanic and engineer for more than 20 years. He moved to Sisters in 2012, which he described as returning to his roots - cowboy boots and all. In Sisters, he and his wife, Carol, built a thriving real... Full story
As spring finally clawed its way into Central Oregon, early mornings brought wonderful peace and quiet. The Scotties love the quiet, enjoying it in the backyard. They lie down and survey the acres of green vistas in front of them, seeing the morning dew glistening upon the grass. I would love to know what they are thinking about. They look like contentment itself. Maybe they hear from God, the same way we can when we seek and find silence. Mastering and enjoying silence is... Full story
In 1932 Walter H. Beech began designing and manufacturing airplanes in Wichita, Kansas, with his business partner and wife, Olive Ann Beech. They had one objective: to build the finest aircraft in the world. They began their business during the Great Depression and were warned a cabin biplane with a fancy exterior wouldn't "fly." The naysayers were wrong. Beechcraft airplanes are still flying today. Sisters resident Steve Harris is a longtime pilot. He has been intrigued by... Full story
For 45 years, John Leavitt was a key man in staging the annual Sisters Rodeo. Leavitt, who died in April, became a Sisters Rodeo board member in the 1980s and served as an arena director and timed-event coordinator, as well as serving on the queen-selection committee. And throughout most of those years, he was also a contestant, having grown up in a rodeo family. Leavitt grew up on his family's cattle ranch in Lakeview. At the age of 24, Leavitt toured Europe with the Rodeo... Full story
If you want to catch a really big trout during the summer, you should be on the river when the sun sets - and not at home enjoying a romantic evening with your spouse. Now, I've seen lots of huge trout eagerly feeding in the middle of the day when flotillas of big bugs are on the water and every fish is feasting on the bounty. This happens on the Metolius River during the green drake hatch - and the golden stonefly hatch. On the Lower Deschutes, the big trout will smack big... Full story
A taste of Brazil is coming to Sisters Country. On Friday, June 23, Vianna-Bergeron Brazilian Jazz will bring the grooves and joy of Brazilian music to Sisters Depot. The band is led by Cassio Vianna and Tom Bergeron. Cassio Vianna is a pianist with a deep knowledge of and connection to the rhythms and harmonies of samba, bossa nova, and other Brazilian genres. After earning a bachelor's degree in Brazilian popular music in his native Rio de Janeiro, he came to the U.S. in... Full story
First responders came to the aid of an injured bicyclist on Sunday morning after he crashed down a 15-foot cliff. The rider said he was cut off by another bicyclist while traveling approximately 40 mph on Highway 242 outside Sisters. Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District crews were dispatched to the crash victim experiencing pain secondary to the accident. On arrival, crews performed an assessment and determined the patient needed to be transported to the hospital for further... Full story
You'd think that Sisters' winters would be the most amenable time for going on a reading tear, but for me, summer seems to be the season when I really get on a roll - especially with fiction. Part of that is technologically enabled. With audiobooks downloaded to the phone, I can listen to a novel while I'm throwing down a couple of hours of work in the yard, read-tripping with Marilyn, or chucking newspapers on porches through downtown Sisters on a Tuesday night. Part of it... Full story
Sisters in Sisters celebrated its one-year anniversary with food and drinks at The Barn on Thursday, during Pride Month. The monthly meetup offers a casual gathering space for LGBTQIA+ folks and their allies the second Thursday of every month, from 4 to 7 p.m. Its first event, held one year ago, attracted dozens of attendees, many of whom heard about it through Central Oregon-based Pride announcements and social media. It was the first known Pride event ever to occur in... Full story
Stetson Wright of Milford, Utah, took All-Around Cowboy honors at the Sisters Rodeo last weekend. That meant he went home with an exquisite equine sculpture sponsored by the Sisters branch of U.S. Bank, and carved by Sisters artist J. Chester "Skip" Armstrong. The exceptional trophy is a reflection of the homegrown quality of the Sisters Rodeo - one of the aspects of the event that draws the top competitors and sold-out crowds. The event is staged by hundreds of volunteers... Full story
The 90 Sisters High School seniors who received diplomas at Friday's 75th commencement had plenty to celebrate as they moved from students to alumni. There was little sign and barely a mention of the pandemic that disrupted nearly half of their four-year journey, but challenges of those years are undeniable. Rather than dwelling on the difficulties, this resilient bunch focused on the positive, as evidenced by the speeches and songs shared by the graduates. After the graduates... Full story
Sisters Folk Festival (SFF) will hold a free community celebration - the Ponderoo Arts Experience - following the 4th Friday Art Walk on Friday, June 23. The event will kick off the Big Ponderoo festival weekend. The family-friendly event will include live music, food and drink, a new public art unveiling, and hands-on creative opportunities for all ages. The evening will begin with a Big Ponderoo-sponsored 4th Friday Art Walk, which includes live music at 10 participating... Full story
The Sisters Rodeo honored some key players in America's frontier military history last weekend. They welcomed the Buffalo Soldiers of Seattle, a reenactment group that pays tribute to the soldiers of the 9th and 10th Cavalry and the 24th and 25th Infantry - Black regiments that conducted some of the most grueling campaigns in the American West after the American Civil War. The Buffalo Soldiers were given their name by the Plains Tribes, who respected their endurance and... Full story
The 77th Sisters Habitat dedication ceremony was held on Bluebird Street in the ClearPine neighborhood earlier this month, to celebrate the completion of Ben and Nicole Harris' new home. Many family members and volunteers who worked alongside each other on the project joined in the celebration. Family partners Kristina Maxwell and Chris Laing made a special presentation. A handmade quilt created by local quilter Susan Cobb was presented to the family, as is done for every... Full story
Sisters Rodeo To the Editor: Sisters Rodeo again demonstrated why it is a favorite PRCA rodeo for both contestants and fans. With a mostly new board of directors and the leadership of President Patty Cordoni, this production ran smoothly and appeared seamless to the fans in the stands. Cordoni even brought the Buffalo Soldiers of Seattle to the parade and the Grand Entry after seeing them at another Rodeo. This was a tribute to American history, which was so appreciated by fans. The whole week of rodeo was so inspiring,... Full story
Partners In Care, provider of hospice, home health, and palliative care in the Central Oregon region, invites the community to join them in an official ribbon cutting for the new Hospice House and expanded campus at 2611 NE Courtney Dr. The event will be held at the main Bend campus of Partners In Care on Wednesday, June 14, from 3 to 5 p.m. with the Bend Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting ceremony at 3:15 p.m. Limited small tours of Hospice House and the expanded campus will be available during the event. Partners In Care... Full story
Kelly Davis Martin wrote: On behalf of the parents who helped to organized the Senior Graduation Celebrations, we wanted to send a huge thank you to everyone who supported the Class of 2023. Thank you to all of the donors and volunteers for the contribution of your resources to celebrate these graduates. A special thank you to Anne Kizziar for her generous donations of a gift back to each student. We have an amazing community and we are all grateful for your help.... Full story
When I moved to Sisters coming into my freshman year, I was petrified. I was thrown into a new state not only with people I didn’t know, but an environment I didn’t understand. Everyone was so close-knit and connected, it felt hard to find my way into a friend group that didn’t want me. As the summer progressed, my mom encouraged me (made me) try out for the soccer team. Although stepping onto that soccer field made me feel extremely out of place, I would soon discover this would be my family. I connected with my peers... Full story
The Central Cascades Wilderness Permit System goes into effect Thursday, June 15, and runs through October 15. Central Cascades Wilderness Permits are required for all overnight stays in the Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington, and Three Sisters Wilderness areas. Day use permits are required at 19 of 79 trailheads within those same three wilderness areas. Permits must be reserved through Recreation.gov. About 40 percent of overnight permits were released in April for advance reservation, and starting Thursday, June 8, the... Full story
Susan Cobb became a city councilor this year for the first time, continuing her passion for helping her community. Cobb has lived in Sisters Country since 2006, after purchasing land in 2002, wanting to be close to family. "I love Sisters because it's a small town, and you get to know a lot of people, and you feel welcomed, and it satisfies my cultural and social needs," said Cobb. She moved into Sisters City limits in 2008. Cobb became a quilter when she moved to Sisters.... Full story
I attended the most recent Sisters Planning Commission workshop on June 1. On the agenda was the introduction of the Planning Commission’s consideration of the application to tear down and rebuild the Space Age gas station. No public participation of any sort is allowed at Planning Commission workshops so that wasn’t the reason I spent my valuable time just sitting and watching. I went because at their April 20 workshop, at the 4:39 p.m. mark, the Planning Commissioners were told by the City’s hired attorney, Jeremy Green, th... Full story
A friend told me the other day that he gets downright sentimental about a small-town parade. Heart-bursting, tear-welling sentimental. That’s a wonderful thing. It signals a connection to something truly valuable — a genuine, homegrown sense of community that doesn’t exist everywhere. Sisters has long punched well above its weight when it comes to creating events that are 100-proof, world-class — and yet celebrate a hometown vibe. Nothing exemplifies that more than the Sis... Full story
Dozens of people traveled from across the Pacific Northwest to Sisters last week to testify before the Oregon Board of Forestry. The Board conducts its meetings at locations around the state, and Wednesday-Thursday, June 7-8 was Sisters’ turn. The public testimony that the Board took at the beginning of an all-day session at FivePine Lodge & Conference Center on Wednesday was impassioned — and it had nothing to do with anything that was actually on the board’s agenda. The p... Full story
The Sisters School Board adopted the 2023-2024 operating budget in a public hearing at the final School Board meeting of the school year. Every year, the School Board adopts the new operating budget based on the money allotted to the Sisters School District (SSD) from the state school fund. The state school fund amount is decided in the state legislature. The general fund budget, including $9,619,008 for instruction and nearly $8 million for support service,s, comes to... Full story
